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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-0901High confidence

Microsoft Excel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Microsoft · Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise

9.8CriticalCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Within 72 hours

Critical technical impact with a remotely reachable, unauthenticated path; no CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityCriticalOperational priority:Critical, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • The selected CVSS metric records a network-reachable, unauthenticated path with no user interaction.
  • EPSS is 4.31% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Microsoft Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-2369

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
0.0
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 72 hours

Critical technical impact with a remotely reachable, unauthenticated path; no CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.

What

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

What

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.

Why

The current structured CVE record identifies a security weakness, but the root cause requires confirmation in the linked vendor material.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
a network path → vulnerable operation → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration.
CWE not yet assigned
CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.
NetworkUnauthenticatedRemote code execution
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2369Official EUVD mapping

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Microsoft Excel software when the software fails to properly handle objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. Exploitation of the vulnerability requires that a user open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Microsoft Excel. In an email attack scenario, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by sending the specially crafted file to the user and convincing the user to open the file. In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a website (or leverage a compromised website that accepts or hosts user-provided content) containing a specially crafted file designed to exploit the vulnerability. An attacker would have no way to force users to visit the website. Instead, an attacker would have to convince users to click a link, typically by way of an enticement in an email or instant message, and then convince them to open the specially crafted file. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Microsoft Excel handles objects in memory.

Official EUVD record ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20200527Security Bulletin 27 May 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 27 May 2020, published on 27 May 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-289Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Microsoft

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été corrigées dans les produits Microsoft . Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer un déni de service, une exécution de code à distance et une usurpation d'identité.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-286Multiples vulnérabilités dans Microsoft Office

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été corrigées dans Microsoft Office . Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une usurpation d'identité, une atteinte à la confidentialité des données et une exécution de code à distance.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-005592複数の Microsoft 製品におけるリモートでコードを実行される脆弱性

Microsoft Excel、Microsoft Office、Microsoft 365 Apps には、Microsoft Excel ソフトウェアがメモリ内のオブジェクトの適切な処理に失敗した場合、リモートでコードを実行される脆弱性が存在します。 ベンダは、本脆弱性を「Microsoft Excel のリモートでコードが実行される脆弱性」として公開しています。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5139MS 5월 보안 위협에 따른 정기 보안 업데이트 권고

o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 긴급 o 관련 KB번호 - 4556840, 4556846, 4556852, 4556853 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 4. Internet Explorer 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 공격자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 응용 프로그램을 실행할 경우, 원격코드실행을 허용하는 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2020-1035, CVE-2020-1058, CVE-2020-1060, CVE-2020-1062, CVE-2020-1064, CVE-2020-1092, CVE-2020-1093) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 긴급 o 관련 KB번호 - 4551853, 4556798, 4556799, 4556807, 4556812, 4556813, 4556826, 4556836, 4556840, 4556846 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 5. Microsoft Office 관련 소프트웨어 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 공격자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 응용 프로그램을 실행할 경우, 원격코드실행을 허용하는 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2020-0901) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 중요 o 관련 KB번호 - 4484338, 4484365, 4484384 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 6. Microsoft SharePoint 관련 소프트웨어 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 공격자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 응용 프로그램을 실행할 경우 발생하는 원격코드 취약점 o 관련취약점 : - 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2020-1023, CVE-2020-1024, CVE-2020-1069, CVE-2020-1102) - 정보노출 취약점(CVE-2020-1103) - 스푸핑(CVE-2020-1099, CVE-2020-1100, CVE-2020-1101, CVE-2020-1104, CVE-2020-1105, CVE-2020-1106, CVE-2020-1107) o 영향 : 원격코드실행 o 중요도 : 긴급 o 관련 KB번호 - 4484332, 4484336, 4484352, 4484364, 4484383 ##### □ 해결책 o 영향 받는 소프트웨어를 이용하는 경우 마이크로소프트사의 보안 패치 적용 7. Microsoft Dynamics 관련 소프트웨어 보안 업데이트 ##### □ 설명 o 공격자가 특수하게 제작된 악성 응용 프로그

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 21 May 2020 · Last source change 19 Aug 2026, 16:33 UTC · CWE not yet assigned

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2369
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceUnavailable
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Missing structured fields: CWE classification. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901; removed patch: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901; removed remediation: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901.
    Before
    patch: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · remediation: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901
    After
    patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901
    portal.msrc.microsoft.com ↗
  2. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added patch: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901; added remediation: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901; removed remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901.
    Before
    patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · remediation: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901
    After
    patch: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · patch: portal.msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901 · remediation: msrc.microsoft.com/CVE-2020-0901
    msrc.microsoft.com ↗
  3. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    unspecified; 2019 for 32-bit editions; 2019 for 64-bit editions; 2019 for Mac; 2016 for Mac; 2016 (32-bit edition); 2016 (64-bit edition); 2010 Service Pack 2 (32-bit editions) · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    After
    16.0.1 < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases; 13.0.0.0 < publication; 15.0.0.0 < publication; 16.0.0.0 < publication; 16.0.0 < publication; 19.0.0 < https://aka.ms/OfficeSecurityReleases · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2369↗Patch or update reference↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-0901 · cve.blacktree.nl